Antique dealer transforms Victorian home into Mason bed-and-breakfast

Jettie Feintuch has always had a fondness for older things. Her late father, David Feintuch, had founded the Mason Antique District, transforming a dusty ex lumberyard into the collection of 10 shops with a courtyard and gazebo that she now manages.
 
Feintuch's love for all-things-antique extends from the business to home front. Last year, she turned the Victorian home where she grew up into Mason's sole bed-and-breakfast. Sharing the beauty and history of the house made sense, she says, considering the footprint of the 3,500-square foot home could easily accommodate front and back living quarters.
 
"Plus, Mason doesn't have many places for visitors to stay," says Feintuch. "There are not a whole lot of options between Lansing and Mason."
 
Feintuch began welcoming guests to the Barnes Street Bed and Breakfast at 604 S. Barnes Road late last spring. Since then, she has hosted a range of guests including the family of a local exchange student, MSU alumni in town for sporting or performing arts events, business people, antique shoppers, and couples celebrating a special anniversary.
 
Built in 1887, the home-turned-B&B serves as a gateway to another era. The original owner, Samuel J.P. Smead, had founded the Farmers Bank, now known as the Mason State Bank. He lived in the house for about a year before he died, leaving the house to his wife and daughters who lived there for more than 40 years.
 
The Feintuchs bought the house in the 1980s and continued to retain the historic character of the home. The walls still bear the original wallpaper from 1887 and many of the furnishings are antiques—some having belonged to the Smead family.
 
"That's one of the biggest selling points about staying here," says Feintuch. "While we don't have a lot of modern amenities, our guests have immediate access to history. Everything they see, touch or experience is going to be old and antique."
 
The Barnes Street B&B has two guestrooms. Renovations are underway on the master bedroom that features a marble fireplace. Guests can enjoy a hot breakfast in the morning, and can easily walk two blocks to other dining and shopping options in downtown Mason.
 
"I've been very pleasantly surprised," says Feintuch. "Everyone seems delighted that we finally have a bed-and-breakfast in town."
 
Source: Jettie Feintuch, Owner, Barnes Street Bed and Breakfast
Writer: Ann Kammerer, News Editor

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